(a/n): Um, hi. I know I'm terrible and my update schedule is non-existent and you guys have been waiting so long and so just...yeah. Hi. Here's an update! Thanks for reading! Sorry I suck!

Era: Post-War, EWE

Pairing: George x Hermione

"No, no, it's my treat."

Hermione took a moment to straighten herself out at the apparation point in Diagon Alley located just behind the pub now run by Hannah Abbott - Hannah Longbottom - she mentally corrected herself. It seemed like, in this new post-Voldemort world, that everyone had paired up as quickly as they could. Hermione wasn't bitter. Honestly. However, after running for her life, literally, for an entire year, she felt that something as petty as romance could just...wait. Harry and Ron both, naturally, disagreed with her. Vehemently. Harry and Ginny had wed on the one year anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts in a beautiful ceremony on the grounds. Ron and Lavender had followed the next autumn at the Burrow. Dean and Seamus, Pavarti and Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott and Daphne Greengrass, bloody Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass...it seemed that all of Hermione's free time was suddenly filled with champagne toasts and ballrooms and love.

Tightening her scarf, and moderately wishing that she'd reinforced the heating charm on her boots, Hermione made her way from behind the pub and toward the shops, intent on finishing her holiday shopping before the ever-growing Weasley Christmas that evening. Turning left after leaving Flourish and Blotts, they had finally, finally received the tome she'd been waiting on to finish Percy's gift, and smiled as she saw the lights still on at what had become one of the most popular shops in the Alley.

Purple and orange greeted her as the sheer volume of laughing children nearly knocked her over as she pushed into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Waving to Verity behind the counter, Hermione made her way to the back of the store, intent on finding some last minute knick knacks to send back to school with Teddy and Victorie. Smiling as she tickled the chin of a purple puffskein, she contemplated the small creatures and decided on one for the young Veela. Rounding the corner of one of the many winding shelves, Hermione almost dropped all of her purchases as George Weasley grabbed her elbows with the intent to steady, even as his heart dropped all the way to her knees.

"Woah there, Granger, my products make you weak in the knees?" he said, smirking at the beautiful brunette on whom he absolutely did not have a crush on thank you very much.

Swatting his arm, she har har-ed as only Hermione could with a roll of her eyes. "Happy Christmas, George, will I see you tonight at the Burrow?" she flushed - naturally he knows where you'll be tonight Hermione it's mum's house for Godric's sake. While Hermione had rejected the idea of love in the fallout of the war, she'd begun to notice George Weasley as of late. Perhaps it was due to the fact that all of their friends were now paired up, so they were often sat together at various events, but she had grown to genuinely appreciate him and enjoy his company, both making her distinctly uncomfortable.

Looking for literally anything to talk about, she focused on the display that she'd nearly careened into when she ran into him. "You've brought the Daydream Charms back, hm?"

Sheepishly running a hand along the back of his neck, George nodded. Since losing Fred, George had not been able to accurately cast the charm to format the Daydreams. His first batch had been nightmares - literally. After a few tries, he'd given up entirely until this year. "It was like suddenly the charm clicked in my brain - perhaps I've finally allowed myself to start….daydreaming...again…" he said, transfixed as she held one of his charm boxes in her hands, smile beaming. Shite he was in trouble.

"It's truly remarkable magic, George. You should be so proud - I certainly am. I may even purchase one of your Daydreams." she said with a wink.

"No, no, this one's on me, m'lady." he said with an exaggerated bow as he offered her his elbow to escort her to the counter, and then to Christmas dinner with his family.